In 1993, John J. Bilella Jr. took a job at Kennedy-Kenrick simply to coach his daughters on the softball team. Little did he know, he’d make a career out of it that would span 20 years, foster four Philadelphia Catholic League MVPs and win a PCL title.

Bilella was most recently the skipper for the Wissahickon girls’ softball team, leading them atop the Suburban One American standings in 2011-12 and another winning season this past year.

However, citing contractual disagreements, Bilella, 65, has decided to step way from the position, but hopefully not for long.

“When Kennedy-Kenrick closed, it really broke my heart,” Bilella said. “We just got done building a stadium with a brand new scoreboard with a lot of money we took out of our own pockets, and then they built Pope John Paul.”

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Starting his coaching career in 1970, Bilella was once the football coach at K-K before spending 17 years coaching softball during which times one of his daughters was elected the Most Valuable Pitcher of the PCL. Once the school closed he continued along to PJPII, where the team finished 14-10 their first season.

“I always got more pleasure out of molding a team than inheriting one,” Bilella said. “But, I had hoped I’d retire at Kennedy-Kenrick.”

When he made the move to public school in 2010, Bilella, who is a retired 38-year United States Post Office employee, wanted to bring in more income from his “part-time” coaching gig.

“People tend to think that a coach’s job begins and ends on gameday,” Bilella said. “I had to split my salary with my assistant whom I brought on.”

“I thought I deserved a little more after doing quite well.”

Bilella left his post with what he described as an amicable conversation with the athletic director Tom Meier.

“The school treated me quite well,” Bilella said.

The Worcester Township native aims to sit back and wait for an opportunity to open up locally.

“The more you stay off of it, the less you miss it. Who knows, my life might change and I might get into the mode of not doing it anymore,” Bilella said. “I hope it doesn’t end, I hope I pick something up.”